Gyeongnam Education, Gathering of Honest Officials, Awarded 'Best' for Anti-Corruption Measures

Up 3 Levels from Last Year, High Scores in 4 Categories

Gyeongnam Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Office of Education received the highest grade in the 2021 Anti-Corruption Policy Evaluation conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, rising three ranks from the previous year.

Last year, it received the highest comprehensive integrity grade among metropolitan and provincial offices of education and achieved a first-grade rating in this anti-corruption policy evaluation.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has been evaluating anti-corruption activities and achievements autonomously pursued by public institutions at all levels every year since 2002 to enhance the integrity level in the public sector.

This evaluation assessed anti-corruption policies implemented from November 2020 to October of last year across 273 public institutions nationwide.

The evaluation examined seven tasks: establishment of anti-corruption implementation plans, expansion of participation in integrity policies, establishment of anti-corruption systems, efforts to eliminate corruption risks, operation of anti-corruption systems, achievements of anti-corruption policies, and efforts to spread anti-corruption policies, with results announced in grades from 1 to 5.

The Gyeongnam Office of Education received perfect scores in two areas?establishment and operation of anti-corruption systems?and high scores in two other areas: achievements of anti-corruption policies and efforts to spread anti-corruption policies.

In January last year, it launched the corruption and misconduct reporting hotline, the “Direct Integrity Call to the Superintendent,” which was praised for eradicating corruption and misconduct, establishing public service discipline, directly communicating with complainants, and promptly and strictly addressing corruption issues.

To foster a clean public service atmosphere and spread a culture of integrity, it held integrity meetings led by the head of the institution, conducted integrity consulting and talks, provided on-site integrity education for managers, ran the “More Respect, More Consideration” campaign, and installed and operated an integrity suggestion box, all of which earned high marks.

It signed business agreements with four social organizations to realize an integrity society and was recognized for implementing anti-corruption plans, such as improving the selection method to make the operation of the procurement material selection committee mandatory across all institutions.

Auditor Lee Minjae said, “This result comes from a strong will to actively practice anti-corruption reforms and create a fair culture that meets the expectations of education consumers,” adding, “We will boldly improve any shortcomings and strive further to establish integrity as a culture.”